Method and apparatus for treatment of hemorrhoids

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for reducing the pain, distention and bleeding of hemorrhoids during defecation. The method involves maintaining pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins of the anal canal, lower rectum and anal area during defecation to prevent swelling and distention of the hemorrhoidal veins. The method also includes preventing extrusion of the internal hemorrhoidal veins out of the anal canal during defecation. In performing the method, a tubular member is inserted in the anal canal so that it engages the walls of the canal and the area around the rectal opening. This tubular member is held in place during defecation. The inner or forward end of this tubular member is closed during insertion and then opened after it is positioned in the anal canal to permit excrement to pass therethrough.

Eggers METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDS [76] Inventor:Paul J. Eggers, 320 S. Green Bay 7 Rd., Lake Forest, 111. 60045 [22]Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 351,472

[52] US. Cl. 128/1 R, 128/341 [51] Int. Cl .,.A61 n 129/00 [58] Field ofSearch 128/1 R, 343, 294, 283, 128/341 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1 305,146 9/1884 Chamberlain 128/1 R 2,324,520 7/1943Lamson 128/1, R 2,450,935 10/1948 Carr 128/1 R 2,695,024 11/1954Krohmann 128/283 3,083,704 4/1963 3,157,180 11/1964 3,216,420 11/19653,447,533 6/1969 3,675,642 7/1972 July 30, 1974 Primary Examiner-AldrichF. Medbery Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kinzer, Plyer, Dorn & McEachran [57] ABSTRACT and anal area during defecation to prevent swelling anddistention of the hemorrhoidal veins. The method also includespreventing extrusion of the internal hemorrhoidal veins out of the analcanal during defecation. In performing the method, a tubular member isinserted in the anal canal so that it engages the walls of the canal andthe area around the rectal opening.

This tubular member is held in place during defecation. The inner orforward end of this tubular member is closed during insertion and thenopened after it is positioned in the anal canal to permit excrement to 7pass therethrough.

5 Claims, 5 D aw n Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OFHEMORRHOIDS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Piles or hemorrhoidsinvolves swelling of the hemorrhoidal veins'in the anal canal. Inextreme cases, these veins become distended and extend out of the rectalopening. Distention of the hemorrhoidal veins may occur duringdefecation and at such times both pain and bleeding may be severe.

Various methods of treating hemorrhoids have been tried in the past,including the use of ointments, supports, trusses and so forth, but noneof these methods has been particularly successful. In severe. cases,surgery for the removal of the hemorrhoidal veins has been utilized, butthis is not a permanent cure since the swollen veins may reoccur.-

Since most of the pain, distention and bleeding of the hemorrhoidalveins occurs during and as a result of defecation, my method involvesmaintaining pressure on the anal canal walls and the area around therectal opening to prevent swelling of the hemorrhoidal veins anddistention thereof during defecation. Pressure is maintained on theseareas by means of a tubular member which is inserted in the anal canalbefore and maintained there during defecation. This tubular member alsoengages the area around the rectal opening and both exerts pressure onthe hemorrhoidal veins to prevent their swelling and also prevents theirdistention out of the anal canal.

For ease of insertion of the tubular member into the anal canal, theforward or inner end of the tubular member is closed during insertionand is opened after it is properly seated in the anal canal. In oneembodiment of the invention, the inner end of the tubular member isclosed by an obturator which is removed as soon as the tubular member isproperly positioned. The tubular member is held in firm contact with theanal canal walls and the area around the rectal openingdur- BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the apparatusof this invention being positioned in a user;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tubular member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the obturator and tubular member;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of theapparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The method of my inventioninvolves the application of pressure to the walls of the analcanal andthe area around the rectal opening'during defecation to prevent swellingand extrusion of the hemorrhoidal veins. This method is accomplishedwith the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 through 30f the drawings through theuse of a tubular member 11 which is positioned in the anal canal so asto engage the wals of this canal thereby exerting pressure against thehemorrhoidal veins located on the surface and in the interior of thetissue adjacent said walls. This tubular member which preferably may beformed of a suitable plastic material,-preferably impervious, has aforward or inner end 13, a shoulder portion 15 and a flared skirtportion 17 at its lower or outer end. A rigid or semi-flexible plasticmay be used, polyethylene or vinyl being examples of suitable materials.

As can best'be seen in the drawings, the tubular member may be slightlytapered from its forward end 13 to the shoulder portion 15. A passage 19extends through the tubular member. I

An obturator 21 may be positioned in the passage 19 so as to projectoutwardly ofthe forward 'end 13 of the tubular'member 11 to close thepassage through tubular member. The obturator is made sufficiently longso that it extends beyond the lower end 17 of the tubular member. Abulbous handle 23 is'formed atthe lower end of the obturator tofacilitate its insertation into and removal from the tubular member.

A support 25 which spans the opening of a toilet seat 27 is provided. tohold the tubular member in position in the anal canal during defecation.The support member 25 has an opening 29 which aligns with the passage 19of the tubular member. A circular ledge 31 surrounds this opening andreceives the flared end 17 of the tubular member to support the tubularmember.

In use, the obturator 21 is installed in the tubular member with theforward end of the obturator extending beyond the inner end 13 of thetubular member. Both the obturator and the tubular member are coveredwith a suitable lubricant 33 to facilitate insertion. The obturator andtubular member are inserted in the rectal opening of the user with thetapered portion of the tubular member engaging the walls of the analcanal. The shoulder portion 15' of the tubular member engages the areaaround the rectal opening to limit insertion of the tubular member andto prevent the sphincter muscles from drawing the tubular member intothe rectum. The shoulder portion also provides support for the tissuessurrounding the rectal opening and prevents distention of thehemorrhoidal veins. The user now sits on the support 25 and seats theflared portion 17 of the tubular member'on the annular ledge 31 therebysupporting the tubular member in position in his anal canal. As can beseen in FIG. 1, the bulbous portion 23 of the obturator will extendthrough the opening 29 in the support member. The obturator is thenremoved, opening the passage 19 through the tubular'member. Duringdefecation, the excrement can pass through the tubular opening 19 butthe tubular member will be held in place by the support 25 thereforeprevent expulsion thereof. After. elimination is completed, the tubularmember may be removed from the anal canal and either disposed of orcleaned and retained for future use.

Another form of apparatus for practicing the method of my invention isshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings. This form of apparatus includesan inflatable tubular member 41 which may be formed of suitable plasticfllm, vinyl or polyethylene being two examples. The tubular memberincludes hollow walls 43 formed of inner and outer layers of plasticfilm defining an annular chamber 45 which may be filled with air underpressure to rigidify the structure. An outwardly curving flare 47 isformed at the forward or inner end of the tubular member and a largeroutwardly projecting shoulder or ledge 49 is formed at the lower end ofthe tubular member. An air valve 51 is located on the outer edge of theshoulder and a hand operated air bulb (not shown) may be connected tothe air valve to inflate the tubular member. A passage 53 extendslongitudinally through the tubular member. The tubular member may beslightly tapered from its forward flared end 47 to the shoulder or ledge49.

In preparation for use, the uninflated tubular member 41 is rolled upabout its longitudinal axis much like an umbrella is wrapped and isthoroughly lubricated. The tubular member is inserted into the analcanal in its uninflated condition. When properly inserted in the analcanal, it is inflated with a hand operated air bulb until it assumes theshape shown in FIG. 4. The length of the tubular member is proportionedso that the flared inner end 47 extends inwardly of the anal canal andinto the rectum, thus functioning to hold the tubular member in the analcanal to prevent expulsion of the tubular member during defecation. Theshoulder portion 49 of the tubular member engages the area around therectal opening to limit insertion of the tubular member and to preventthe sphincter muscles from drawing the tubular member into the rectum.Th shoulder portion also provides support for the tissue surrounding therectal opening and prevents distention of the hemorrhoidal veins.

After elimination is completed, the tubular member is deflated andremoved. It may be discarded or cleaned and used again. The tubularmember 41 may be used with the support 25 of the first form ofapparatus, but under most circumstances, such a support will not benecessary.

Whereas, the method of my invention and preferred forms of apparatus forpracticing my method have been shown and described, it should beunderstood that there are modifications, changes and alterations whichmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theclaims attached hereto.

1 claim: l. A method for reducing the pain, distention and bleeding ofhemorrhoidal veins in the natural anal canal during defecation includingthe steps of:

inserting an open ended appropriately shaped tubular member into theanal canal to contact the walls and the hemorrhoidal veins,

exerting pressure on said anal canal walls to reduce distension of saidveins and support said tubular member during defecation, and

removing said tubular member from said anal canal after defecation.

2. The method of claim 1 including closing the inner end of said tubularmember during insertion into the anal canal and opening said tubularmember to permit excrement to pass through said tubular member.

3. The method of claim 2 in which closing of said inner end of saidtubular member is accomplished by inserting an obturator therein whilesaid tubular member remains in the anal canal.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said tubular member is also moved intosupporting engagement with the area around the rectal opening uponinsertion into the anal canal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said pressure is exerted on said analcanal walls by inflating said tubular member.

1. A method for reducing the pain, distention and bleeding ofhemorrhoidal veins in the natural anal canal during defecation includingthe steps of: inserting an open ended appropriately shaped tubularmember into the anal canal to contact the walls and the hemorrhoidalveins, exerting pressure on said anal canal walls to reduce distensionof said veins and support said tubular member during defecation, andremoving said tubular member from said anal canal after defecation. 2.The method of claim 1 including closing the inner end of said tubularmember during insertion into the anal canal and opening said tubularmember to permit excrement to pass through said tubular member.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 in which closing of said inner end of said tubularmember is accomplished by inserting an obturator therein while saidtubular member remains in the anal canal.
 4. The method of claim 1 inwhich said tubular member is also moved into supporting engagement withthe area around the rectal opening upon insertion into the anal canal.5. The method of claim 1 wherein said pressure is exerted on said analcanal walls by inflating said tubular member.